The award was announced by the Nobel committee at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway. It is given each year to the person or group that has done the most to advance world peace.

2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending victims of war-time sexual violence. Fellow laureate Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. #NobelPrizepic.twitter.com/MY6IdYWN1e

"Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others.

"Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to wartime sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions."

Mukwege has devoted his life to defending victims of war-time sexual violence. Murad has told the harrowing stories of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. She was one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses.

Also nominated was Pope Francis, who was a longshot because no pope has ever won the Nobel Peace Prize.

There were 331 nominees for the prize, according to the Nobel committee. Of that number, 216 were individuals and 115 were groups. It is the second-highest number of candidates, behind only the 2016 nominees.